The Barrier of Sin

Ephesians 2:14 (NIV)

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

In 1992, an Arab terrorist drew a knife among the throng of shoppers in a Jerusalem marketplace and managed to stab two young Jewish men before fleeing for his life. The crowd of Israelis, incensed, began running after him, a number of them drawing pistols as they ran. The Arab darted across the street, running straight towards a Bella Freund, a forty-year old Jewish woman.

In a split second, she sized up what was happening. She stood in front of him for 27 minutes while people kicked and punched her; one even burnt her with a cigarette as they tried to get to the terrorist. Finally, the police arrived and took the Arab into custody. Later, when the reporters got to her, Bella Freund said: "It was very simple. If you can save a life, you do it." Her hatred of Arabs, her lifelong conditioning never to touch a man who wasn't her husband, all of it was set aside in a split-second of truth. "I could not see a helpless man killed by a mob, whatever he had done," she said. "That's not the way I was brought up. I had to be a barrier for him.”

There was a barrier between us and God. It was called sin. Jesus saw the barrier of sin that divided us from God and voluntarily stepped in and broke the barrier so we could have peace with God.

Dear Lord, we thank You for destroying the barrier of sin and giving us peace in Him. Help us share that great news today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.